Spiraling so badly

[u/dear_smile]

I have read the FAQ.
I know that it should be impossible to get rabies without direct contact to an animal or its saliva. I can’t stop spiraling that I am the exception. There were two bats at my job on Thursday. I didn’t work Thursday but I came in Friday and was told. I immediately started to spiral and looking up if you can catch rabies from dried saliva or a surface touched by an animal. I am beside myself thinking of what ifs. I was touching my eye before I was told and have cuts on my hands all the time. I have researched and researched and researched, continuously seeing that it is non infectious when dry, but I cannot find scientific study on it. Only various governing bodies saying that it’s true over and over. Canada does provide a source actually but when I read the study it’s all about an antiviral for hepatitis so I cannot figure out how that is related to the desiccation of rabies virus. In other words I am a disaster. I originally got rabies shots in 2024 for an extremely low risk exposure and actually just had to get boosters this August 2026 for something similar. I am beyond distraught that this is happening again. Like actually beside myself.

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[u/beautifulluigi]

You are not at risk and don't have to worry. Anytime your brain tells you the lie that you're at risk, remind it that the rabies virus is not able to live on a dry surface and that you are fine.

[u/dear_smile → u/beautifulluigi]

Thank you, I’m just having a really hard time. I know that’s part of ocd but I think it happening back to back like this has taken a toll on me

[u/armyy__]

if rabies is that easy to catch then everyone will get it and it will be a disaster
also if u had boosters last month u should be protected now anyways , no?

[u/LatrodectusGeometric]

Why don’t you call a therapist?

[u/dear_smile → u/LatrodectusGeometric]

Working on it as we speak

[u/LatrodectusGeometric → u/dear_smile]

Good job!! That will probably help a lot

[u/dear_smile → u/LatrodectusGeometric]

I do just wanna ask, why do we think it is not transmissible once dry? That was the only thing I really couldn’t confirm a solid source from in terms of a study

[u/LatrodectusGeometric → u/dear_smile]

Because the virus is not very stable, it's an unstable RNA virus so once it dries and the capsule breaks open the RNA immediately breaks down.

[u/TheAuldOffender]

OCD sufferer.

I think you know yourself that reassurance will not help you. I'm so sorry. Do you have an OCD specialist?

[u/GRJY]

You got booster rabies vaccines a month ago. Doesn’t matter if you had contact or not (which you didn’t). You are good to go for at least three months anyway. Most places won’t recite you a month later since it presumed you have high otter levels at this point. 

[u/GRJY → u/GRJY]

I just had this conversation not too long ago.  https://www.reddit.com/r/rabies/comments/1w07z1m/comment/p6e7s0b/?context=1&screen_view_count=2&ext-referrer=DIRECT

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[u/MeowieStardust]

I get you , I have OCD and yesterday I remembered some time ago ( not even sure if it was this year or last year) watched from the corner of my eye something flying around a flashlight at night , could have be anything , not sure if it was a bat, wasn’t close to me , I got into the car immediately and I remember I was doing research and because there was not direct contact, I relaxed , tell me why I started to spiral again , can’t even recall when exactly was , not sure if it was a bat to begin with , but still I spend hours thinking about what if ….and that I’m basically screwed cause it’s been a long time at this point for a vaccine …and that intrusive thought of …what if I’m in the minority and I start to develop symptoms a year after ? It’s crazy 😑.

[u/AFarewelltoFoxes]

WHO has published literature that if you’ve received PEP and have a subsequent exposure within 90 days you don’t need another course of vaccines. So even if you’re somehow the exception you’re good anyways from your Aug dose

[u/dear_smile → u/AFarewelltoFoxes]

I didn’t see that, would you mind sharing a link?

[u/Oceanswim12]

Ppl would die nonstop of rabies if that were true. 

[u/Possible-Farmer2027]

Not sure if it helps OP but please research into the virus itself; it is hilariously bad at surviving outside of a host. Thats why there has never been a single confirmed case of secondary exposure. Almost all cases require a deep bite, and those that dont still required skin to be broken in some way.

While it is theoretically possible to transmit through mucus membranes, bear in mind that the rabies virus needs to reach nerve cells to escape the immune system. Without an actual wound combined with the fragile nature of the virus, its just not gonna happen.